South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung seeks closer ties with Japan and China

President Lee Jae‑myung of South Korea met with the Korea‑Japan Parliamentary Federation delegation, emphasizing the goal of making the two nations “closer and even closer.” He highlighted parliamentary diplomacy as a key tool for overcoming historical distances and expanding cooperation between Seoul and Tokyo.

Earlier in the year, Lee visited Beijing and signaled a desire to open a “new phase” in South Korea‑China relations. He framed the outreach as an opportunity for economic cooperation and political dialogue amid regional uncertainties, including strained Sino‑Japanese ties, the Ukraine conflict and US‑China rivalry. President Xi Jinping urged Lee to “stand on the right side of history,” while Lee stressed pragmatic, mutually beneficial engagement.

Lee’s dual outreach reflects Seoul’s multi‑track foreign policy, aiming to balance its security alliance with the United States against its economic reliance on China, while also improving relations with Japan. Analysts note that South Korea could serve as an honest broker in Northeast Asia, where diplomatic balance is increasingly vital.